Friends of Bushrod Park

Let's get out and touch grass TOGETHER!

Reinvigorating our sense of shared purpose- by taking action to solve issues that affect our park and greater community with compassion and care.

THIS SITE IS EVOLVING AS THE VISION EVOLVES!  As we begin to take action in addressing our first project, collect more information to share, etc - you will see this site evolve quickly. There's real human people doing this work, including building this site to keep you informed.

If you would like to help us out, PLEASE go tell us on the "Get Involved" page! - FOBP team (10/24/26)

Bushrod Park is a highly valued local resource with beautiful large green spaces and community recreational facilities, enjoyed by local residents since the early 1900s.

The park has been a central location for recreational groups and activities for a long time, but the stewardship has been largely relegated to the Director of the Bushrod Park Recreation Center, the City of Oakland, and the generous efforts of several Baseball organizations.

Bushrod Park has been a lovely destination for local school children to enjoy a snack after a neighborhood outing, musicians practicing scales and songs, interest groups to meet and organize, and locals to enjoy a picnic while basking in the sun.

While Oakland Parks have been officially designated “no dog zones” for many years, you would also find local residents and their dog companions playing fetch and meeting dog friends for play dates at Bushrod.

When a concerning safety incident took place in early 2026 between a child and dog, it became clear that it is time to evaluate opportunities to improve safety at the Park.

Initially, we formed to address Safety- for the human-only recreationalists, but also for the owners and dog companions whose consistent presence at the park over decades indicates potential unmet needs.

That is why you will see this noted as our first project of focus.  After the 9/16/26 town hall meeting with District 1 Council Member Zac Unger, we see the greater community understands that addressing Safety is an urgent matter. Especially, after years of escalating friction and frustration across user groups.

But we also knew when we started meeting key stakeholders to understand how to address that issue, we would discover other ways that Bushrod Park could benefit from the enthusiasm and deep pride for this resource with organized projects supported by our local community.

That is where YOU come in!